Movieapp Search – a browser-based infection that will heavily diminish your browsing experience

Movieapp Search is a browser hijacker that will redirect all of your search inquiries through a fake search site before showing you results littered with ads from legitimate sources such as Yahoo, Searchlee, or others. Please don't install this browser plug-in as it's falsely advertised.
If Movieapp Search virus is on your device, each time you launch your browser or a new tab, you see the search.movieapp.net website. That's an address of a fake search site because it doesn't generate any search results. If you type something into the search field or the URL bar, a new tab opens with results from the above-mentioned engines.
But the results will be slightly different. They will be filled with deceptive ads. This browser hijacker is able to do all that by changing your browser settings, such as the default search engine, new tab, and homepage. We're going to tell you how to get rid of this unwelcome guest and restore your browser settings.
| name | Movieapp Search |
|---|---|
| Type | Browser hijacker, PUP,[1] redirect virus |
| Altered browser settings | Homepage, new tab, default search engine |
| Promoted fake search site | search.movieapp.net |
| IP address | 104.21.61.142 |
| Symptoms | Search results are with ads and shown from a different source than it used to, sudden redirects force to visit questionable sites, the device runs visibly slower |
| Risks | PUP installation, malware infections, identity theft, financial losses |
| Distribution | Fake Flash Player updates, software bundling, deceptive ads, torrent websites |
| Removal | This and any other computer infection should be removed by scanning your affected device with a reliable anti-malware tool |
| System health fix | PUPs can alter system directories, resulting in an unstable working environment. Revert any changes and clean up tracking cookies by using the all-in-on FortectIntego system diagnostics tool |
There's a lot of potentially unwanted programs (PUPs) such as Movieapp Search browser hijacker, including Your Lovely Tab virus, Searcher4u.com virus, and others. All of them operate similarly by changing particular browser settings in order to show affiliated content and redirect to it.
Movieapp Search ads are deceptive as they have no relations to what portals you'll end up on if you click any of them. According to our research, PUP developers tend to promote other shady pages alike. Thus the sites you will be redirected to might include:
- gambling,
- other PUPs,
- porn,
- malware,
- tech scams,
- push notification viruses, etc.
The worse thing is that you could be forced to visit any of the above-mentioned sites on demand if a Movieapp Search redirect occurs. Dangerous websites might try to draw out your personal details, push to install other PUPs, infect devices with malware through drive-by downloads, and so on.
And the last but not least shady function of Movieapp Search hijacker is that it is able to collect various browsing-related data, including geolocations, device/browser info, used apps, visited sites, search inquiries, etc. These details are considered non-personal information, but if they fell into the wrong hands, you could become a victim of a cybercrime.

Thus the sooner you remove Movieapp Search from your device, the better. You could entrust this task to a trustworthy anti-malware tool such as SpyHunterCombo Cleaner or MalwarebytesMalwarebytes to do it automatically. All you need to do is run a full system scan and let the security tool do what it's supposed to do.
After Movieapp Search removal, it is highly recommended to take care of your device's overall health. Cybersecurity specialists[2] suggest using the all-in-one FortectIntego system optimizer to take care of all system-related issues and clean all tracking cookies in the process. Messy system settings and tons of tracking cookies could result in crashes, BSoDs,[3] and other system failures.
Refrain from installing apps from bundles or be cautious while doing it
Most of the potentially unwanted programs are distributed through software bundling. This technique is widely used to spread all kinds of useless apps. They're usually downloaded from third-party software vendors, but lately, more and more legit program developers are starting to use this too.
Therefore, you should be very cautious when installing any new software. The best way to find out what apps are offered within the pack is to read the EULA. And the only way to avoid PUPs is not to rush. Next time you'll be installing something, please choose the Advanced or Custom mode instead of the Standard, Recommended, or Quick ones.
Then go offers of each and every app within the bundle and deselect it from installation. If you're on the fence about any apps, do a web search, or better yet, check if we didn't write about it. Don't get tricked by false advertisements and install only the program you initially wanted.

Remove Movieapp Search virus from any device with trustworthy security tools
Browser hijackers, such as Movieapp Search virus, might be falsely advertised as useful tools that will improve certain aspects of your browsing, like privacy or security, or speed up your searches. In fact, it does the direct opposite by slowing down your internet connection and exposing you to various cyberthreats.
Therefore, it doesn't matter if you installed this PUP willingly or you have no clue how it got on your device. You must remove Movieapp Search browser hijacker immediately. If it's installed as an app, use security tools to scan your device. A proper anti-malware app will automatically detect and eliminate the intruder.
Use our Movieapp Search removal guides posted below to check if the browser hijacker wasn't installed as a browser extension. Afterward, don't forget to take care of your system's overall health by performing system diagnostics with compatible system repair tools.
Uninstall from Windows
Uninstall from Windows 10/8:
- Type Control Panel into the Windows search box and open the result.
- Under Programs, select Uninstall a program.

Uninstall from Windows 7/XP:
- Click on Windows Start > Control Panel (Windows XP users should click on Add/Remove Programs).
- In Control Panel, select Programs > Uninstall a program.

Remove the unwanted program:
- In the Programs and Features window, look for any recently installed suspicious entries, select them, and click Uninstall.
- If User Account Control appears, click Yes to confirm, then complete the removal.

Delete from macOS
Remove the unwanted application:
- From the menu bar, select Go > Applications.
- In the Applications folder, look for any suspicious entries, then drag them to Trash (or right-click and pick Move to Trash).

Delete leftover files and folders:
- Select Go > Go to Folder.
- Enter /Library/Application Support and remove any suspicious folders related to the unwanted program.
- Repeat the same check in the /Library/LaunchAgents and /Library/LaunchDaemons folders, deleting any suspicious entries.

- Finally, empty the Trash to permanently remove the leftovers.
Remove from Microsoft Edge
Delete unwanted extensions from MS Edge:
- Select Menu (three horizontal dots at the top-right of the browser window) and pick Extensions.
- From the list, pick the extension and click on the Gear icon.
- Click Remove.

Clear cookies and other browser data:
- Click on the Menu (three horizontal dots at the top-right of the browser window) and select Settings > Privacy, search, and services..
- Under Clear browsing data, pick Choose what to clear.
- Select Cookies and other site data and Cached images and files. (apart from passwords, although you might want to include Media licenses as well, if applicable) and click on Clear.

Restore new tab and homepage settings:
- Click the menu icon and choose Settings.
- Then find On startup section.
- Click Remove next to any suspicious startup page.
Reset MS Edge if the above steps did not work:
- Press on Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
- Click on More details arrow at the bottom of the window.
- Select Details tab.
- Now scroll down and locate every entry with Microsoft Edge name in it. Right-click on each of them and select End Task to stop MS Edge from running.

Instructions for Chromium-based Edge
Delete extensions from MS Edge (Chromium):
- Open Edge and click select Settings > Extensions.
- Delete unwanted extensions by clicking Remove.

Clear cache and site data:
- Click on Menu and go to Settings.
- Select Privacy, search and services.
- Under Clear browsing data, pick Choose what to clear.
- Under Time range, pick All time.
- Select Clear now.

Reset Chromium-based MS Edge:
- Click on Menu and select Settings.
- On the left side, pick Reset settings.
- Select Restore settings to their default values.
- Confirm with Reset.
- This will disable extensions and reset startup pages but will not delete bookmarks, saved passwords, or browsing history.

Remove from Mozilla Firefox (FF)
Remove dangerous extensions:
- Open Mozilla Firefox browser and click on the Menu (three horizontal lines at the top-right of the window).
- Select Add-ons.
- In here, select the unwanted extension and click Remove.

Reset the homepage:
- Click three horizontal lines at the top right corner to open the menu.
- Choose Settings.
- Under Home, set your preferred homepage and new tab settings.
Clear cookies and site data:
- Click Menu and pick Settings.
- Go to Privacy & Security section.
- Scroll down to locate Cookies and Site Data.
- Click on Clear Data...
- Select Cookies and Site Data and Temporary cached files and pages, then click Clear.

Reset Mozilla Firefox
If clearing the browser as explained above did not help, reset Mozilla Firefox:
- Open Mozilla Firefox browser and click the Menu.
- Go to Help and then choose Troubleshooting Information.

- Under Give Firefox a tune up section, click on Refresh Firefox...
- Once the pop-up shows up, confirm the action by pressing on Refresh Firefox.

Remove from Google Chrome
Delete malicious extensions from Google Chrome:
- Open Google Chrome, click on the Menu (three vertical dots at the top-right corner) and select More tools > Extensions.
- In the newly opened window, you will see all the installed extensions. Uninstall all suspicious extensions related to the unwanted program by clicking Remove.

Clear cache and web data from Chrome:
- Click on Menu and pick Settings.
- Under Privacy and security, select Clear browsing data.
- Select Browsing history, Cookies and other site data, as well as Cached images and files.
- Click Clear data.

Change your homepage:
- Click menu and choose Settings.
- Look for a suspicious site in the On startup section.
- Click on Open a specific or set of pages and click on three dots to find the Remove option.
Reset Google Chrome:
If the previous methods did not help you, reset Google Chrome to eliminate all the unwanted components:
- Click on Menu and select Settings.
- In the Settings, scroll down and click Advanced.
- Scroll down and locate Reset and clean up section.
- Now click Restore settings to their original defaults.
- Confirm with Reset settings.

Delete from Safari
Remove dangerous extensions:
- Open Safari, click Safari in the menu at the top-left of the screen, and select Preferences.
- Go to the Extensions tab, look for any suspicious entries, and click Uninstall to remove them.

Clear history and website data:
- Click Safari in the menu and pick Clear History.
- Set Clear to all history and confirm with Clear History.

Reset Safari:
- Click Safari in the menu and select Preferences > Advanced.
- Enable Show Develop menu in menu bar.
- From the menu bar, click Develop and select Empty Caches.

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